Will Republican losses translate into Democratic wins

[Mr.B]

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The Center No Longer Holds

<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/20/magazine/20wwln_essay.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/20/magazine/20wwln_essay.html&lt;/a&gt;
This essay is about the way the Republican Party has been able to consolidate its control and to institutionalize conservative values into the American Political system. What do you think of this article and particularly this quote

Congressional committee chairmen are now appointed largely on the basis of their fealty to the Republican leadership and their ability to raise funds for G.O.P. candidates. When bills go to a conference committee to iron out differences between the House and Senate, they are rewritten to please conservatives and then thrown back to the floors of the House and Senate, where they can’t be amended. Interest groups are told that loyalty to the G.O.P. is the price of access. One lobbyist reportedly complained: “I always thought my job is to look out for my clients. Suddenly, I’m working for the Republican Party.”

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<p>Are the Republicans better at renting out the Lincoln Bedroom than Clinton was? Republicans have become very efficient and tough about getting donations from special interests and are attacking the Democratic fund-raising base. California protected Union Political fund-raising this year but it could come under attack again in the near future.</p>

<p>Is the country better off than it was 7 years ago?</p>